Alarm and signaling system.



G. M. WILLIS.

ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1906.

947,208, Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. M. WILLIS.

ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1906.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. M. WILLIS. ALARM AND sIGNALniG SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION IILBD MAY 7, 1906.

947,208. Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wflnessas: v -515 GEORGE M. WILLIS. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18. 1910.

Application filed May 7. 1906. Serial No. 315,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Ile it known that I. (inonon M. 'lmas, citizen of the United States. residing at (Int-ago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Alarm and Signaling Systems. of which the following is a full. clear. concise. and exact description, ret'crem'e being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this spccitication.

My invention relates to combined watchmens signaling and tire alarm systems. more particularly to substation apparatus whereby the circuit may be controlled or interrupted to telegraph to a central station the number of the substation according to a predetermined code. In systems of this kind it is desirable to have the substation apparatus of such construction that a watchman. in making his r unds. may operate the substation apparatus in a simple manner in order to make the report of his beat. and it is also desirable that the apparatus may be opt 'atcd by a citizen. in case of tire. quickly and easily and in a simple manner.

It is the object of this invention to secure these desirable results. and it is also the object to provide apparatus the various parts of which are of simple construction and of such relative disposition that the mechanism will be free from complication and consequent liability of disarrangcment.

My invention also provides means whereby the two different signals may be distinguished from one another at the central station.

The various advantages secured by the construction of myinvention will be pointed out hmeinatter.

My invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sub station box: Fig. 2 is an elevation view. parts being removed to reveal the interior mechanism: Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the interior mechanism. the outer casing being shown in section: Figs. 4 and are detail views which will be hereinafter referred to.

The case 1 may be of iron or other suit.- able material and is provided at :2 with a cover hinged to the case at 3 3. In order that the cover may normally be kept closed. I provide the construction shown in Figs. 1

and 5. (last integrally with the casing is the bifurcated lug l to which is proximate. when the door is closed. the lug .3 which is cast integrally with the cover 2. livoted at. 6 in the lug 5 is the handle T which. when the door is closed. is adapted to be swung into engagement with the slot. 8 in the lug l. The ends of the lug l are provided with the openin s 9 which are adapted for the reception ot a soft metal wire 1t) which is shown in Fig. l. the ends of which may be twisted together and a lump of soft metal 11. for instance. a piece of lead. may e threaded upon the twisted wire and then by means of a clamp or other compressing device may be pressed into any desirable shape whereby the wires may be securely held together.

\Vhen it is desired to open the box the handle T is swung about the. pivot ti and out of the slot 8 in the lug l thereby cutting the sot't wire and allowing the release of the cover 2. This kind of connection will admit of the ready opening of the box but tol'ms a seal which maybe. replaced each time the box is opened and which. therefore. secures the box against. tamperers or other persons wi hing to open the box for other than lire alarm purposes. The wires may be scaled by a special tool whereby the sealer or authorized otticer may be identified. It is evident that this construction eliminates the usual glas front which would necessitate breaking. which is an undesirable construction on account. of the danger of cutting ones hand or of the liability of broken glass to intertcre with the operating mechanism.

In order that the box may not be closed by any one other than an authorized otlicer. I provide means such as is shown in Figs. 1. 3 and I. This construction consists ot' a cylinder 12 mounted in a partition l-l which secured to the lu ts 1l-ll on the case 1 by means of screws li 15. lllouuted to slide within the cylinder 12 is the plunger 13'. which is provided with the pin '14" which is adapted to ride within the slot 13 ot the cylinder 12. The plunger 13' is also provided with a stem 16 about which is disposed the helical spring 17 which is secured to the cylindc' and to the stem and which exerts a torsional and a longitudinal pressure upon the plunger 13'. The plunger 13 is also provided with the extension 18 which. when the door is closed. is adapted to extend lit) into the aperture 19 in the eover 9. The inner surface of the cover 2 engages the shoulder 15) upon the plunger and normally retains the pin 1t within the slot 15'. Then the door is opened the spring 17 will force the plunger outwardly. thereby disengaging the pin H from the slot 15', and also. on account of this torsional tendency,

will draw the pin l-t away from the slot 15', as is shown in Fig. i. this figure being an elevation view of this portion of the mechanism. It. is evident that when the plunger is in this position the door is prevented from being entirely closed. The extension 18 is adapted to be engaged by a key furnished to the authorized ofi'icer whereby the plunger 13' may be turned about until the pin 11' is proximate to the slot 15', whereby the door may be closed and locked as. has been described.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, l have therein shown the mechanism for controlling the line circuit. To the baclt wall 2) of the case 1 secured the slab 21 of slate or other similar material by means of the screws 22-22. Secured to the slab is the base plate 23 upon which are mounted the pillars 94;-Q-t. A. supporting plate 25 is secured to the pillars Qt i l by means of screws. main shaft 25' is mounted in the plates 23 and Q5 and extends :lorwardly through the partition 1?. Secured to the main shaft 25 is the sector 2o upon which is mounted, by means of the support 27 the springs and 29, the purpose of which will be hereinafter i described. 25 is the plate 30 which supports the seg' ment 31. this segment being concentric with l helical spring 32 is secured to the base plate i Q3 and to the shaft 25' and exerts a torsional pressure upon the sector 26. whereby the abutment 33 of the sector 21% is held in engagement. with the lug 31'. A lever 3+ is mounted upon the rectangular portion 35 upon the shaft. 25' and is secured thereto by the screw 36, the lever being disposed upon the forward side of the partition 13. The segment 31.n1eshes with a pinion 37 which is mounted upon a shaft 38, this shaft being mounted in the plates 23 and E35. Disposed about the shaft 38 is the coiled spring 39, and also upon said shaft is secured the ratchet wheel 40. which is engaged by the pawl 41, upon the gear wheel 42, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 38. A spring 43 also mounted upon the gear wheel 42 engages the pawl 41, as shown in l ig. Q.

The gear wheel 42 meshes with a pinion 44 upon the shaft 45. mounted in the plates and 25. Also secured to the shaft to is mechanism 47. The escapement is rendered Loosely mounted upon the shaft adjustable b means of the adjustable weight. 48, as is evident from the drawings.

Alounted upon the forward end of the shaft 45 is the break-wheel t9, which is insulated by the bushing 50. it will be noted that the brealewhcel acts meehaiiically only. no current passing through it. The spring 39 tends to cause a rotation of the shaft ill in the direction of the arrow at which, by reason of the engagement between the ratchet mechanism and the gear 42 with the pinion 44 causes a rotation of the break-wheel to in the direction of the arrow 53. This mechanism for causing the rotation of the breakwheel is, as it has been described, normally prevented from operation by reason of the engagement of the detent ma upon the seg ment 31 with the supporting plate 25, as is indicated in Fig. 2.

Secured to the supporting plate 25 is the support 5a, to which are secured, by means of the screws 55, the contact springs 513, 57, 5S and 59, these contact springs being insulated from each other as shown. The spring 59 is so disposed that it may be controlled by the break-wheel I E) and so that it may, when engaged by the projections no upon the break-wheel, engage the contact spring 58. The spring 56 is adapted to be engaged by the pin til upon the segment Ill. the [)ur]')ose of this engagement being hereinafter pointed out. The stop or pin ill is so disposed that. it; may also be engaged by the spring Qt! upon thc'proper operation of the sector 21%. the purpose of this construction being hereinafter described. The springs on and 57, the springs 58 and 5H. and the springs .28 and 28) form, respectively. the pairs of contacts a, Z), and c which are connected across the line limbs in multiple so that the circuit may be closed by the operation of any one of the three pairs of coin tat-ts. The contacts are connected by means of conductors 132-02 to the binding po ts ti? (33 to which the terminals of the line circuit may be secured.

The watchman or otlicer who is to make the reports of his beat by operating the substation apl'iaratus is provided with a key which may be of such shape and size that it may properly engage the extension (33 upon the shaft tits, this exten ion till being of such shape as to correspond with the construction of the ltey. The ltcy is adapted to be inserted into the b x through the aperture (it which is disposed over the shaft. 38. and it is evident that a clock-wise rotation of the key will wind the spring Eli) and will cause a rotation of the segment Ill about the pivot shaft 25 in the direction of the arrow (35. This will. by reason of. the engagement bctweeen the lug Ill and the abutment. 33 cause the rotation of the sector 26 and, consequently, of the lever arm 34-. Upon the cover 2 I provide the stop 36,

1 ill) .lltl

which is so disposed that when the spring mechanism has been wound to such a degree that its release will cause one revolution of the break-wheel 49, the stop as will be engaged by the lever arm 34. hen the key is withdrawn and the mechanism thereby released, the break-wheel. 49 will make one complete revolution and will assume its normal position when the detent engages the plate or frame 25. This rotation of the break-wheel will cause a circuit to be closed intermittently according to the code of the break-wheel consisting of the projections 0 by reason of their engagement with the contact spring 59, this engagement causing the electrical engagement between the springs 55) and 58. It will be noted at the central station that when the nmnber of the substation is telegraphed but once it is to be considered a report by the Watchman or ofiicer of his beat.

Vhen it is desired to send in to the central station a fire alarm the seal is broken, as has been heretofore described, and the box door is opened, thereby exposing to view the lever arm 34. hen the lever arm 5H is depressed, thereby rotating the sector 26 about the shaft 25 in the direction of the arrow (35. the spring 29 will be brought into engagement with the stop 61 upon the segment 31 and will thereby be forced into electrical contact with the spring 28. The abutment f) will then engage the lug 31 and will carry with it the segment 31. The contact will remain closed until the. lever arm has gone to its limit. which is determined by the stop (37 upon the partition member 13.

\Vhen the lever arm 34 has been depressed to such an extent to wind the tweak-wheel mechanism sutliciently to cause. if it were released. three complete revolutions of the break-wheel 49, the stop til engages the spring 58 and brings it into elect!" all connection with the spring 57. thereby closing the circuit at this point also. this contact remaining closed as long as the stop til engages the arcuate end 57' of the spring 56. it is now evident that the circuit is closed during the entire downward stroke of the segment 31. This will cause a long dash at. the telegraphic instrument at the central station and will indicate to the operator that the signal is a fire alarm. Upon the release of the lever 34 the spring 32' will cause the sector to rotate quickly about the shaft 25 in the direction of the arrow until the abutment 33 engages the lug 31'. Thus the contact between the springs 28 and 29 is opened. The contact between the springs 5t) and 57.

however. will remain completed until the break-wheel 49 will have made one complete revolution. When the springs 56 and 57 part contact the long dash at the central station indicating a fire alarm will have been completed and the three following revolutions of the brealowhecl it! will telegraph to the central station. three times repeated. the number of the substation. \l'hen the stop 53 engages the plate 4'5 the signal will have been completed and the central station will he informed as to what substation apparatus has been operated. it is evident from the foregoing that the watchmaus signal and the tire alarm signal may be easily di tinguished at the central station.

In order to secure against users who wculd not be careful to depress the lever 3t its entire distance. or persons who could not on account of the strength of the spring. the springs 28 and 29 are so disposed and the sector 20 is so constructed that the lever arm may be moved a predetermim-d distance depending upon the length of the slot ll: before the mechanism controlled by the main spring is affected. This movement of the lever arm would be sutlicient to close the circuit for a short time at the springs 2H and 21?. This will cause an unusual signal at the central station and it will indicate to the operator that an attempt has been made to oper ate some box in the circuit and an investigation ean be made.

From the operation above described. it fol lows that. by providing a mechanism adapt ed when wound to operate signaling mech anism so that a. characteristic signal would be transmitted four times unless prevented by cooperating means. and at the same time short-circuiting the signaling mechanism during the normal period required for the first sending of the signal. a ln mctc histic indication may be made at the receiving station consisting in a dash upon the recording tape, the length of which indicates the duration of the closure of the circuit during the interval which would be otherwise occupied by the first sending of such signal. fter the termination of this short-cireuiting interval. such short circuit is opened and the signaling apparatus is effective to send the characteristic signal three times in succes sion. This affords the operator at the receiving station a positive indication other than the record of the signal itself that the signal thus sent indicates an alarm of tire instead of the record of a watchman's report. The distinguishing signal consisting in the long dash preceding the record of the fire alarm signal cannot be produced either by accident or design by the watclnnan in the course of his regular duties. but only by deliberately breaking the seal of the ease and operating the lever 3i. Thus, a positive means is employed for indicating the difference between the uitchmans signal and a fire alarm signal.

It is evident, from the foregoing that the construction may be made strong and durable and in no Way needs a delicate adjustment to secure its proper operation. The

parts are such that they may be easily constructed and assembled and may easily be reached in case of necessity of repair.

It is evident that changes and modilications may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention by those skilled in the art. and I do not wish to be limited. there fore. to the precise construction shown.

I elaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I. In a device of the class described. the combination with a break-wheel. of spring mechanism for operating said break-wheel. means for winding said break-wheel operating mechanism sutiieiently to cause one complete revolution of the brealewheeh separate means for winding said brealewheel meehanism snlticiently to cause a plurality of revolutions of the break-wheel, means associated with said separate winding mechanism t'or elosing the circuit during part of the time while said break'wheel operating mechanism is being wound. and eontaet springs associated with and adapted to be operated by said brealt-wheel whereby the circuit may be opened and closed.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a break-wheel. of spring mechanism for operating said break-wheel, means for winding said ln'ealt-wheel mechanism sutl'ieiently to cause one complete revolution of the break-wheel, separate means for winding the break-wheel operating mechanism sullieiently to cause a plurality oi revolutions of said brealt-whee-L.

means associated with said separate wind ing mechanism for closing the circuit during the time of winding and means for elosing the circuit during part of the time of operation of the brealvwheel.

3. In a deviee of the elass deseribed. the combination with a break-wl'ieel. of spring herein mechanism associated with said break-Wheel for operating same, means for winding said brealv wheel operating mechanism suitieiently to cause one revolution of said breakwheel upon the release of said mechanism, separate means for winding said breakwheel mechanism sutiiciently to cause a plurality of revolutions of said break-wheel upon the release of said operating mechanism, means tor closing the circuit during the winding of said operating mechanism, means for retaining the closed eireuit, during part of the operation of said breakwhecl mechanism and contact springs associated with said break-wheel and adapted to be operated by the same.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a break-wheel, of spring mechanism for operating said break-wheel. means for normally preventing the operation of said mechanism. means for winding said mechanism sullit'ient'ly to cause. upon its release. one revolution of said break-wheel, separate winding mechanism tor winding said operating meehanism sutliciently to ca use. upon its release. a plurality of revolutious of said break-wheel. means associated with said separate winding mechanism for closing a circuit containing a telegraphic instrument during the winding of said breakwheel operating means by said separate winding mechanism. and n1 *ans associated with said separate winding mechanism for retaining a closed circuit during part of the operation of said break-wheel mechanism upon its release.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of May A. D., 1906.

GEORGE M. \VILLTS.

Vt'itnesses CHARLES J. Sennnrr, Aii'rnnn II. Bon'rreincn. 

